Improvement in mowing-machines



2 Sheets--Sheet 1'.'

n. H.v GAGE. lM0win-g-Machin,

Patented Oct. 26,1875.

fun...

I wir@ 66666.

2Sheets--Sheet2 n. H. GAGE.

yMnwng-Machnle'.

Patented Oct. 26,1875

N- PETERS. PHOTO-LITHOGRAPNER, WSHINGYON. D C4 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DAVID H.-GAGE, OF DOVER, NEW HAMPSHIRE.

IMPROVEMENT IN MOWlNG-MACHINE-S.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. l69,l62,dated October 26, 1875; application iiled May 10, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DAVID H. GAGE, of Dover, Stratford county, New Hampshire, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mowing-Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. v

The invention relates to certain improvements in mowing-machines; and consists in the devices constructed and operating in the manner hereinafter set forth. f

The object of the invention is to provide an efficient machine for cutting grass and analogous material.

Figure 1 is a plan or top view of a device embodying the elements of lthe invention. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of same, showing the cutting mechanism suspended. Fig. 3 is a de-V tached view of a part of the wheel A and counecting-wheels. Fig. 4 is alike view of the brace and draw rods. Fig. 5 is a similar view of the bell-crank and forked shoe. Fig. 6 is a side elevation, showing the hinging4 mechanism. Fig. 7 is a detached perspective view of the finger-guard X. Fig. Sis a section through the longitudinal center of the finger-guard and appurtenances. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the outer shoe.

A in the accompanying drawings represents the conveying-wheels, having upon their circumference the studs a, and at their centers the hub a, extending inward a proper distance, and receiving the axle B, which extends across the device and connects the wheels A. The wheels A are flanged on their edges, and have placed within the flanges Ithe ,wheels`D, mounted loosely upon the hub w, and having adjacent their outer edge the ratchet b, upon which operates the spring-pawl d, in such manner as to secure the wheel D with the Wheel A as the latter. moves forward. The

wheels D are flanged on their inner edges, and

have the cog-wheel c placed about the annu-A lar shoulder f, which receives the hub Va washer, h, being placed on the axle B, adjacent the shoulder f. rlhus the wheels A are mounted loosely upon the axle B, and the wheels D loosely upon the h ub and have but one conjoint movement, which is when the device is moving forward' in a direct course,

with the peripheries of the wheels A in the same plane. The wheel c engages the pinion E, rigidly mounted upon theaxle F.

From the above construction it is clear that when the device is turned to the right or left one of the wheels A operates its wheel D, while the other wheel D rotates, the pawl slipping over the ratchet b.

.It is also obvious from the above description that when one of the wheels A enters a depression its movement is accelerated, communicating a corresponding increase of movement to its Wheel D, and also to the opposite one, which rotates upon the hub m without affecting its Wheel A. Y

The axle B exten-ds across the device, its central parts passing through the elongated bearing z on the under side of the platform I, which is provided upon each end with the arms t', which extend rearward, having bearing-boxes at each extremity to receive and support the axle F at each side. Immediatelyl adjacent one ofthe arms i, and working upon the axle F, is a gear-wheel, K, provided upon its side with the fixed clutch Z, working onthe same axle as the gear-wheel, the clutch and wheel being made in one piece. Operating upon the axle F is placed the sliding clutch m, having a slot to receive the feather z on the axle, and actuated by the forked lever n, the

fork of which enters the annular groove p in the clutch, the clutches land m being arranged so as to properly engage. The operation of the lever n is regulated by a rack placed adjacent the drivers seat, so that the lever can be operatedby thefeet, the motion of the lever being limited by the collar q, provided witha set-screw, and encompassing the axlel F. Securedto the center ot' the rear of the axle B, opposite the platform I, and depend'- ing somewhat downward, is placed the plate K, provided with a groove and the boxes r, which form the bearings of the axle L, to

which, at one'end, is rigidly secured the gearwheel t, the teeth lof which engage the cog- Wheel K, the other en d of the axle L being 1' provided with the wheel M, to which the pitman-rod N is attached eccentrically. The pitman-rod extends `forward lat right angles to, landa proper 'distance' below, the "axle B, its

end of the bell-crank, the post being secured in position by a nut. The angle ofthe bellcrank is pivoted to and upon an annular shoulder on the rear of the shoe R. The front arm of the bell-crank is forked, and encompasses the grooved friction-wheel T, which `rotates onthe vertical axle z, secured upon the end of the sickle-bar V, which has teeth secured on its upper surface, and operates upon the` cutter-bar in amanner hereinafter set forth, the teeth moving in juxtaposition to and above the ledgerblades W, 'secured to the upper surface of the finger-guards X, in

such manner that the cutting-edges of the teeth shall cross the ledger-blades W in close relation. The shoes at each end of Athe cutter-bar are provided withledger-blades W', sharpened upon one edge only, while those on the iinger-guards are sharpened on both, and flare upward and outward beyondthe edges of the finger-guards. The finger-guards X are recessed onthe upper surface of their rear parts, the rear portion of the recessed parts `beingbolted in line to the cutter-bar Z", provided with suitable apertures t, to receivepthe shoulders t' on the finger-guard X, the front upper portion of which rises above the level of the cutter-bar, and is provided witha recess having init the angular piece a', to receive the ledger-blades W, the edges of which protrude over the edges of the iingerguards, the back of the ledger-blades W, and that portion of the finger-guards immediately below the` rear edges of the ledgerblades, forming the front of the channel wherein the bar of the` sickle moves. i

The guide-plates A' are secured in linerig-` idly at their rear to the cutter-bar by bolts,

which pass through the cutter therefor, finger-bar B, and the rear of the guide-plates, `which are lower at their rear, their front edges forming the rear of the channel in which the `sickle-bar V moves. rlhe front portion ofthe guidefplate extends over the rear of the sickleteeth, serving to keep them in position. The' channel wherein the sickle-bar moves is fur ther formed by the plate B', which is bolted tothe shoe R, below the front armof the bellcrank P.: At the 1 outer end of the cutter-bar is provided another shoe, B", furnished at its rcarwith the supporting-.wheel d', working on `an axle fixed to the vertical flange f. An upright flange, f', extends forward upon theupper surface of the shoe, being cast vertically p. thereon, and is properly recessed on itslower y edge to permit the operation of the sickle,

and strip the same, thus preventing clogging. The front part of the shoe B" forms a finger- A5l 169,162 i guard, and is similarly provided with a led gerh blade, W', which, however, is sharpened only on the inner edge. The shceR curves upward in front, and is there provided with the supporting-wheel It', adjacent which, upon the edge of the shoe, are placed the ears Z', while at theedge, and near the rear of the shoe, is placed another ear, l", the axle-apertures in the ears l' and l" being at the same height.

At the front endof the forked rod is provided the sleeve D', secured on the rod E', and provided with thedepending ears m', which are connected by the rod a" with theearsl' l", y

forming kthe hinge upon which the cutting mechanism swings. The brace-rod F' extends from the extremity of the rod E', beyond the sleeve D', to the rear of the device, where,to

one of the iianges, p', provided belowf` the y arms t', therear end of the rod Fl is secured,

the rear extremities of the forked rod E' being y attached to the flanges on each side. The platform I is provided with a drivers seat, which is located above the center of thelaxle F, and has abovethe rod E' a bar-spring, I',

which impinges` upon the' rod, andoperates against the rear of the sleeve D', toprevent the devices jarring.` Theplatform Lis lsur` 3 rounded by the frame I", the rear of thetongue" y u i 1" forming one side of the frame, W'hereat is pivoted the lever L', provided with the hooked `1 arm t' for holding, and below` it the forked arm fw' for sustaining, the chain M',"conn`ect`ed` with the eye a." on the rearof the shoe R, the purpose of the mechanism last described bef( ihg to raiseor lower'` the cutting devices, a

catch, y', being providedlto hold the lever in` i a depressed position as it elevates the cutting mechanism. Near the base of the'tongue is provided the spring-catch N', tosustain the i cutting deviceswhen elevated `by the opera-` tion of the lever.` y l To perform the operation of mowing, the clutches are engaged by operating the lever n so that the wheels k t engage. Then, when the machine is started, the wheel o is rotated, n and, engaging the pinion E, communicates movement to the axle F, and so to the pitj` man-rod, bell-crank, and sickle.`

To transport the device 1t lsonly necescary` torelease the clutches, which prevents any `movement of the axle L and its attachments.`

The machine may be backed read-ily,;` since the reverse movement of the wheels causes the spring-pawl to pass over the ratchet-teeth without effect.

The weight of the shaft L` and adjunctive n elements servesto balance that of the cutting platform I. p y i i g V What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters `Patent`,i`sf` mechanism when the `latter is attached to the 1. The combination of he pitman Nilwith" the shoe fw, having thefpacking-block .fr `piv.-` 1 oted therein, and connected with the bellcrank P by the post y, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the shoe w, block fr,

provements in mowing-machines, as above described, I have he. seal this 20th day of April, 1875.

DAVID H. GAGE. [1.. s]

Witnesses:

SAML. M. WHEELER, JOHN E. BIGKFORD.

reunto set my hand and 

